Creationists seek foothold in Europe

Temporal Renegade · 9th February 2008, 06:01 PM

This'll end well, I'm sure:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080209/...n_under_attack

Complexity · 9th February 2008, 06:12 PM

I'm so sorry.

I liked some things about Europe.

Wildy · 10th February 2008, 03:49 AM

I was trying to guess where this foothold would be. I never expected that it would start in the UK. I would have found it far funnier had it been Norway though.

I was thinking that it would be a former Eastern Bloc country.

m_huber · 10th February 2008, 03:53 AM

Hmm.. hopefully, it will not have the same impact on the UK as it has had here..

LordoftheLeftHand · 10th February 2008, 03:55 AM

Whoo-hoo! I knew it couldn't last forever! Now I don't feel so bad that my country is full of retards; Briton is too! Monkey dance!!!!

LLH

Nogbad · 10th February 2008, 04:14 AM

There is a largely overlooked thread on this in the education section in which I replied

To be honest I haver heard of them - just asked my 17 year old who did biology as a subject a couple of years ago if she came across this stuff and she said that there was nothing like that - creationism was discussed in one session as a class thing and then they got on with the science. I haven't seen any articles like that in a UK paper (not to say there hasn't been one). London is a big place and a church of 150 is not exactly very representative. The only thing that is notable is that they are getting so much material from the US - they would not have the people or resources in Europe to fund that sort of operation.

I would say their influence is marginal at best and that if they are invited into schools it is most likely the few small Christian ones rather than any of the big state schools. I am pretty certain there are fairly strict rules about who can come in and spout off to the kids. I would be none too impressed if our school invited them in. 6,000 to 12,000 years indeed!

My daughter had heard of Ken Hovind though - he is apparently something of an internet joke amongst kids.

If that makes anyone feel any better

Nogbad · 10th February 2008, 04:19 AM

Strangely both threads quote a US media report on this story. I have had a look at the UK Yahoo site and can't see it.

geni · 10th February 2008, 04:20 AM

Eh been trying for at least a couple of decades. As long as the funding from the US lasts they spend it but don't seem to make much progress.

Nogbad · 10th February 2008, 04:59 AM

Originally Posted by geni

Eh been trying for at least a couple of decades. As long as the funding from the US lasts they spend it but don't seem to make much progress.

I vaguely recall them starting out on this 20+ years ago too and then disappearing without trace. I did biology at school too and the approach then was no different from that of my daughter's today - we covered Creationism and Lamarck in one lesson merely as background (it was not examinable). Obviously the bulk of biology was learning about DNA, cell structure, how plants work - messing about with fruit flies etc. but we did spend time on natural selection as a theory too.

There is always RE if they want to discuss creation myths.

Wildy · 10th February 2008, 05:31 AM

Guardian article.

Nogbad · 10th February 2008, 07:12 AM

Originally Posted by Wildy

Guardian article.

Which strangely is in their international section not their UK news section. It is the same article in all three instances. The author would appear to be an American who writes European stories for AP. I think it might be useful if the story ran in the UK as then it could be discussed and questions asked about the whys and wherefores of religious groups (any religious group) pushing a particular line in our schools - if indeed they are.

9th February 2008, 06:01 PM	#1
Temporal Renegade Last of the Time Lords Join Date: May 2003 Location: University of Southern North Dakota at Hoople Posts: 1,893	Creationists seek foothold in Europe This'll end well, I'm sure: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080209/...n_under_attack
	__________________ "Attention please..... a child has been lost in the Tunnel of Goats......" .......FATHER TED

9th February 2008, 06:12 PM	#2
Complexity The Woo Whisperer Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Minnesota, USA Posts: 9,263	I'm so sorry. I liked some things about Europe.
	__________________ "It is a great nuisance that knowledge can only be acquired by hard work." - W. Somerset Maugham "Thought is subversive and revolutionary, destructive and terrible; thought is merciless to privilege, established intuititions, and comfortable habit. Thought looks into the pit of hell and is not afraid. Thought is great and swift and free, the light of the world, and the chief glory of man." - Bertrand Russell

10th February 2008, 03:49 AM	#3
Wildy Adelaidean Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Australia, not that you'll read the "location" field. Posts: 9,924	I was trying to guess where this foothold would be. I never expected that it would start in the UK. I would have found it far funnier had it been Norway though. I was thinking that it would be a former Eastern Bloc country.
	__________________ Latest Blog Posts:Atheism+ More Atheism+ stuff

10th February 2008, 03:53 AM	#4
m_huber Muse Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 828	Hmm.. hopefully, it will not have the same impact on the UK as it has had here..
m_huber Muse Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 828	__________________ "A certain percentage of children have the habit of thinking; one of the aims of education is to cure them of this habit." -- Bertrand Russell on problems with traditional educational methods.

10th February 2008, 03:55 AM	#5
LordoftheLeftHand Dominus Sinistrae Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 1,186	Whoo-hoo! I knew it couldn't last forever! Now I don't feel so bad that my country is full of retards; Briton is too! Monkey dance!!!! LLH
	__________________ What though the field be lost? All is not lost—the unconquerable will, And study of revenge, immortal hate, And courage never to submit or yield - Milton, Paradise Lost

10th February 2008, 04:14 AM	#6
Nogbad Master Poster Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Scotland Posts: 2,515	There is a largely overlooked thread on this in the education section in which I replied To be honest I haver heard of them - just asked my 17 year old who did biology as a subject a couple of years ago if she came across this stuff and she said that there was nothing like that - creationism was discussed in one session as a class thing and then they got on with the science. I haven't seen any articles like that in a UK paper (not to say there hasn't been one). London is a big place and a church of 150 is not exactly very representative. The only thing that is notable is that they are getting so much material from the US - they would not have the people or resources in Europe to fund that sort of operation. I would say their influence is marginal at best and that if they are invited into schools it is most likely the few small Christian ones rather than any of the big state schools. I am pretty certain there are fairly strict rules about who can come in and spout off to the kids. I would be none too impressed if our school invited them in. 6,000 to 12,000 years indeed! My daughter had heard of Ken Hovind though - he is apparently something of an internet joke amongst kids. If that makes anyone feel any better
	__________________ Cogito cogito ergo cogito sum.

10th February 2008, 04:19 AM	#7
Nogbad Master Poster Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Scotland Posts: 2,515	Strangely both threads quote a US media report on this story. I have had a look at the UK Yahoo site and can't see it.
	__________________ Cogito cogito ergo cogito sum.

10th February 2008, 04:20 AM	#8
geni Anti-homeopathy illuminati member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: UK Posts: 26,579	Eh been trying for at least a couple of decades. As long as the funding from the US lasts they spend it but don't seem to make much progress.

10th February 2008, 04:59 AM	#9
Nogbad Master Poster Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Scotland Posts: 2,515	Originally Posted by geni Eh been trying for at least a couple of decades. As long as the funding from the US lasts they spend it but don't seem to make much progress. I vaguely recall them starting out on this 20+ years ago too and then disappearing without trace. I did biology at school too and the approach then was no different from that of my daughter's today - we covered Creationism and Lamarck in one lesson merely as background (it was not examinable). Obviously the bulk of biology was learning about DNA, cell structure, how plants work - messing about with fruit flies etc. but we did spend time on natural selection as a theory too. There is always RE if they want to discuss creation myths.
	__________________ Cogito cogito ergo cogito sum. Last edited by Nogbad; 10th February 2008 at 04:59 AM.

10th February 2008, 05:31 AM	#10
Wildy Adelaidean Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Australia, not that you'll read the "location" field. Posts: 9,924	Guardian article.
	__________________ Latest Blog Posts:Atheism+ More Atheism+ stuff

10th February 2008, 07:12 AM	#11
Nogbad Master Poster Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Scotland Posts: 2,515	Originally Posted by Wildy Guardian article. Which strangely is in their international section not their UK news section. It is the same article in all three instances. The author would appear to be an American who writes European stories for AP. I think it might be useful if the story ran in the UK as then it could be discussed and questions asked about the whys and wherefores of religious groups (any religious group) pushing a particular line in our schools - if indeed they are.
	__________________ Cogito cogito ergo cogito sum. Last edited by Nogbad; 10th February 2008 at 07:13 AM.